Current Research Projects

Westmead Breast Cancer Institute has eight research priority areas encompassing screening, treatment and survival. For more detailed information on current research projects in progress at the BCI please refer to the following pages.

Partipicate in research

Investigating Thinking Style in Illness – Research Participants Needed

This study looks at how the way that we tend to think a lot about certain things might influence our thoughts and behaviours that relate to breast cancer. Increasing our understanding of how people think in response to illness will help us to identify individuals who may experience difficulties in adjusting to illness and also guide us in developing ways to help overcome these difficulties. To be involved, simply fill out the online questionnaire after reading more details at: http://mris.com.au

Prognostic Research

HER2 Study: The natural history of HER2-positive early breast cancer: a cohort study of women who did not receive systemic adjuvant therapy.

Chief Investigator: Prof. John Boyages

This study provides a unique opportunity to obtain information on the natural progression of breast cancer. Investigators will obtain recurrence data on over 1100 women who had breast cancer between 1979 until 1994 and examine archival paraffin blocks from a cohort of more than 200 of these women who had node-negative breast cancer treated without chemotherapy or hormone therapy. A follow-up period of between 15 and 30 years will provide data suitable for effective outcome research.

The researchers have previously investigated prognostic and predictive factors for both distant relapse and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence; however these factors do not incorporate HER2 status or other modern prognostic markers for breast cancer progression. The intent now is to re-examine the archival materials and assess HER2 status using new immunohistochemistry methodology, to repeat the estrogen and progesterone receptor assays using modern techniques and investigate several novel markers thought to be associated with prognosis. Each patients outcome will be also examined using medical records and outcome data from the central cancer registry. Looking retrospectively, information can be obtained immediately to help patients of today rather than waiting a further 20 years for tumour bank research to be worthwhile in terms of survival outcomes.

Lifestyle Research

NSW Breast Cancer Institute VIOLET STUDY: Vitamin D intake or lifestyle and breast cancer. A PhD program in survivorship issues involving Investigation of Vitamin D status of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, and its relationship to prognostic, metabolic and lifestyle factors.

Chief Investigator: Ms Kellie Bilinski

Experimental and epidemiological studies have suggested that Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the development and of breast cancer and be associated with a poor outcome.  Research has suggested that Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized epidemic in Australian women. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be common in breast cancer patients at diagnosis; furthermore, breast cancer patients have been shown to be at additional risk of vitamin D deficiency due to treatment related effects. Thus, it is important to improve our understanding of the vitamin D status of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and of the relationship between vitamin D status and factors known to be associated with poorer prognosis.

This project will improve our understanding of vitamin D status in women diagnosed with breast cancer and its prognostic significance. That the findings form this study will enable the development of subsequent trials involving vitamin D and lifestyle.

Psychosocial Research

Facilitating decision making among women considering breast reconstruction following mastectomy (Breconda Pilot Study).

Chief Investigator: Dr Kerry Sherman

This study entails the development and piloting of an interactive computer based decision aid, Breconda, designed to facilitate decision making relating to breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The pilot study is a single-site randomized controlled trial conducted at Westmead Breast Cancer Institute.  The study aims to establish the feasibility of the decision aid CD-Rom and a number of measures relating to psychological and decision making outcomes with the target population. This research is funded by a Macquarie University Research Development Grant, and is being conducted in collaboration with the University of the West of England and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (SWAHS).

Evaluation of an online decision aid for women with breast cancer considering reconstructive surgery (Breconda Online Study).

Chief Investigator: Dr Kerry Sherman

This study is a multi-centre randomized controlled trial, comparing the Breconda online decision aid designed to facilitate decision making regarding reconstructive surgery following mastectomy, with standard care. Women diagnosed with breast cancer or DCIS who anticipate having a mastectomy are invited to take part in this study. Participants will complete assessments relating to decision making outcomes prior to randomization, then one- and six-months later. This research is a collaboration between Macquarie University, University of the West of England, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, University of Auckland and Breast Cancer Action Group. The study is jointly funded by Cancer Australia and the National Breast Cancer Foundation under the Cancer Australia Priority Driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme.  Study recruitment has not yet commenced.

Psychological responses to attendance at breast assessment clinics: A comparison of standard clinics with streamlined clinics (Stepdown Study).

Chief Investigator: Dr Kerry Sherman

The aim of this study is to assess women’s psychological responses to attending an assessment clinic following a positive mammogram.  Specifically, this study will compare responses to attendance at two different types of breast assessment clinics (standard assessment clinics and stepdown assessment clinics) across a range of psychological indices.  190 women have been recruited into the study thus far (target n=300). This study is conducted in collaboration with, and supported by, Macquarie University.

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 August 2011 14:57